Father-and-son authors Hal and Alex Malchow began writing a fantasy novel even though the dyslexic Alex was 8 and couldn’t read.
Together they completed the manuscript, and the result is the recently published adventure novel for middle graders titled “The Sword of Darrow.” Alex is now 16, reading at grade level and is a member of his high school football team.
The Malchows will be at Alamosa Books at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 23, to discuss the novel, their collaboration and Alex overcoming learning obstacles.
This is a synopsis of the book: In a magical realm filled with creatures of every possible shape and size, war is brought upon the peaceful kingdom of Sonnencrest by evil goblin King Malmut. Princess Babette, the only surviving member of the royal family, manages to escape and seeks refuge with Asterux, a powerful wizard who agrees to teach Babette magic, and who disguises her as an ugly Gypsy girl to protect her from King Malmut’s thugs.
Ten years later, Babette must use the magic to help the kingdom’s only hope at defeating the goblins’ horrible reign — Darrow, a lame boy who can barely pick up a sword but has a great gift for inspiring others.
The Malchows are donating all of the book’s royalties to charities serving learning disabilities. The publisher, BenBella Books, is donating a portion of its profits from the book’s sale to those charities.
Also at the bookstore, author/poet Catherynne M. Valente will discuss her recent books “Deathless” and “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making” at noon today.
Alamosa is at 8810 Holly NE.
AT BOOKWORKS: Albuquerque’s Carolyn Meyer discusses “Cleopatra Confesses,” her new historical fiction for young readers about ancient Egypt, at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Bookworks, 4022 Rio Grande NW. Meyer is an award-winning author of more than 40 books, many of them for young readers.
SOUTHWEST WRITERS EVENT: Sarah Baker, the author of novels and short stories, talks about “Dialogue: Written on the page and spoken on audio books,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at New Life Presbyterian Church, 5540 Eubank NE. Free. Open mike readings from Southwest Writers members precede Baker’s talk.
IN OLD TOWN: Aline Fourier of Santa Fe signs her book “Everything I Eat Nourishes Me,” a self-described cookbook for the body and soul, from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Treasure House Books & Gifts, 2012 South Plaza NW.
IN SANTA FE: Janelle Lynch signs copies of her new monograph, “Los Jardines de México,” and will give a talk at the Radius Books office from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, July 23. An exhibition of Lynch’s large-format photographs will be on display. Radius’ office is in downtown Santa Fe at 227 E. Palace Ave., Suite W. Lynch’s photography is in several public and private collections including the George Eastman House Museum, the Brooklyn Museum and the Fundación Vila Casas, Barcelona.
NEW BOOK: Susan V. Weiss is the author of the newly published novel “My God, What Have We Done?” The novel opens with newlyweds Pauline and Clifford visiting Los Alamos on their honeymoon 50 years after the creation of the atomic bomb. They’re drawn to the town by Pauline’s fascination with theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The novel follows stories in two time periods — Pauline’s struggles with family life and Oppenheimer’s struggles in developing the bomb. Weiss teaches in Burlington, Vt.
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